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HelpByState

Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Free help in Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Find a food pantry open this week
Free help from local charities, food banks, and state and federal programs. Free to use, no sign-up. Every listing shows the day we checked it.

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28confirmed listings
4towns covered
15food pantries and meal programs
October 9last checked

This week

Food this week in Pottawattamie County

Pick a day to see which pantries are open and when. Times come from each pantry's confirmed schedule. Tap Call to reach them.

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Tap a numbered circle to zoom in. Pins are for orientation only: trust the address on each card.

CASSHARRISONMILLSMONTGOMERYSHELBYDOUGLAS, NESARPY, NEWASHINGTON, NE POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY Lake Manawa Council BluffsShelbyWalnutAvocaOaklandCarter LakeCrescentUnderwood
Iowa
28 places

    Some safety programs do not share an address, so they are not on the map. They are listed under Safety below.

    Food pantries and meals15

    Council Bluffs

    Care & Share Pantry Main St

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
    Address
    600 S Main St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Care & Share Pantry, 5th Ave

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Monday and Thursday, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
    Address
    1808 - 5th Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Community of Christ Food Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Photo ID / schedule individual appointment in 10min increments, TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    Address
    17 N 2nd St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    First Baptist Food Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Proof of residency, photo id, TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    Address
    540 - 1st Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51502

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Kreft School Mobile

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Our Mobile Pantry Dates (4:30 pm, While Supplies Last ) 10/20/2026 11/17/2026 12/15/2026 1/19/2027 2/16/2027 3/16/2027 4/20/2027 5/18/2027 6/15/2027.

    Hours
    Tuesday, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM (last week of the month only)
    Address
    3206 Renner Dr, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Midwest Family Worship Center Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    Address
    2540 6th Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Our Saviors Lutheran Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Thursday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
    Address
    313 Story St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Southside Helping Hands Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

    Hours
    Wednesday and Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
    Address
    1919 S 10th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Together Iowa

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Some products may only be available to Iowa residents.

    Hours
    Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    Address
    830 N 14th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Trailblazers Mobile

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Our Mobile Pantry Dates (10:00 AM, while supplies last) 10/27/26 11/17/26 12/29/26 1/26/27 2/23/27 3/23/27 4/27/27 5/25/27 6/22/27.

    Hours
    Tuesday, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (last week of the month only)
    Address
    815 N 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Crescent

    Crescent Food Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Iowa photo ID.

    Hours
    Tuesday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Saturday, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
    Address
    720 Old Lincoln Hwy, Crescent, IA 51526

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Minden

    Neola Community Food Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner.

    Hours
    Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    Address
    106 Lincoln St, Minden, IA 51553

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Walnut

    Trinity Lutheran Church Pantry

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner.

    Hours
    Thursday, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
    Address
    415 Antique City Drive, Walnut, IA 51577

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Council Bluffs Public Schools Mobile

    Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Our Mobile Pantry Dates (4:00 pm, While Supplies Last) 10/13/2026 11/10/2026 12/8/2026 1/12/2027 2/9/2027 3/9/2027 4/13/2027 5/11/2027.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    3200 Avenue C, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Council Bluffs

    Mohm's Place

    Free meals, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    1435 N 15th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

    Utility bills and rent help1

    Countywide

    West Central Community Action

    Community action agency for this county. Apply here for LIHEAP, the federal help with heating and electric bills, and ask about weatherization and other family programs. If you cannot reach them, call the Iowa HHS Community Action Agencies Unit at 515-776-8871.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    1408 "A" Hwy 44, Harlan, IA 51537

    Call first. Hours are not listed. Call first to ask what help is open now and what to bring.

    Checked October 9, 2026. Source: Iowa HHS Find a Community Action Agency page.Suggest an update

    Housing1

    Council Bluffs

    Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs

    Public housing apartments and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    505 S 6th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. Office hours are not published. Call to ask about openings and the waiting list.

    Health and dental3

    Council Bluffs

    All Care Health Center

    Community health center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    902 S 6th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

    Council Bluffs

    Florence M. Lakin Health Center

    Community health center run by All Care Health Center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    1415 Avenue J, Suite 2, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

    Council Bluffs

    New Visions Homeless Services

    Community health center run by All Care Health Center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    1435 N 15th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

    Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

    Recovery and mental health help2

    Statewide

    988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    Call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor any time, for a mental health crisis, thoughts of suicide or a substance use crisis. It is free and confidential. Veterans can press 1.

    Hours
    24 hours a day, 7 days a week

    Veterans services2

    Statewide

    Veterans Crisis Line

    Dial 988, then press 1. Or text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. Free and confidential. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care.

    Hours
    Open 24 hours a day, every day
    Statewide

    VA national phone lines

    VA benefits: 800-827-1000. VA health benefits: 877-222-8387. Homeless veterans, open 24 hours: 877-424-3838. MyVA411, the main VA line, open 24 hours: 800-698-2411.

    Hours
    Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern

    Safety and crisis help1

    Statewide

    National Domestic Violence Hotline

    Free, confidential help for anyone hurt or threatened by a partner or family member: safety planning, shelter referrals and someone to talk to. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at TheHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911.

    Hours
    24 hours a day, 7 days a week

    Government offices2

    How HelpByState works

    Checked, dated and corrected by neighbors

    1. 1

      Matched to the source

      A listing goes up only after its phone and its address or hours match the organization's own page, or an official list.

    2. 2

      Dated on every card

      Each card shows the day we checked it. If sources disagree, we say call first instead of guessing.

    3. 3

      Fixed by the community

      See something wrong, or know a place we missed? Send it in. Nothing changes until we have checked it.

    Neighbors helping neighbors

    Help is closer than you think in Pottawattamie County

    A volunteer hands a bag of fresh groceries to a mother holding her daughter's hand
    Free groceriesFood banks and pantries give food to anyone who needs it.
    A helper smiles as she helps an older man fill out a form
    Someone to help you applyState offices and local programs help with food stamps, bills and more.
    Kids laughing together over a free meal with a grandmother at a community center
    Meals and care for kidsFree meals, clinics and family programs, close to home.

    Questions people ask

    Where can I get free food in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed 15 places that can help in Pottawattamie County: Care & Share Pantry Main St in Council Bluffs (Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM), call first; Care & Share Pantry, 5th Ave in Council Bluffs (Monday and Thursday, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM), call first; Community of Christ Food Pantry in Council Bluffs (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM), call first. 12 more are listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I get help paying rent or a utility bill in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed one place that can help in Pottawattamie County: West Central Community Action, (712) 755-5135. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I get housing help in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed one place that can help in Pottawattamie County: Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs, (712) 322-1491. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I find a free or low-cost clinic in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Pottawattamie County: All Care Health Center in Council Bluffs, (712) 325-1990, call first; Florence M. Lakin Health Center in Council Bluffs, (712) 388-4660, call first; New Visions Homeless Services in Council Bluffs, (712) 325-1990, call first. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I get help with addiction or mental health in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Pottawattamie County: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), 988; SAMHSA National Helpline (Open 24 hours a day, every day), (800) 662-4357. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I get help with veterans benefits in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Pottawattamie County: Veterans Crisis Line (Open 24 hours a day, every day), 988; VA national phone lines (Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern), (800) 827-1000. A veteran in crisis can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.

    Where can I get free legal help in Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    We have confirmed one place that can help in Pottawattamie County: Iowa Legal Aid, (800) 532-1275. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Is HelpByState free to use?

    Yes. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to pay. Every listing is free, and so is adding or correcting one.

    Why do some listings say call first?

    Church and community pantries often change days, move, or close for a holiday. When the sources we checked disagree, or an organization does not publish its hours, we say so instead of guessing. A quick call saves a trip.

    I run a pantry or a program. How do I get listed or fix our hours?

    Use the Add a listing or Suggest an update form. We confirm it against your own page or contact you, then change the listing. It is free.

    Is this the same as 2-1-1?

    No. 2-1-1 is a statewide phone line and database run by the state network. HelpByState is an independent, county-by-county directory that shows the date each listing was checked. If you want to talk to a person, dial 2-1-1.

    Where do the hours and phone numbers come from?

    From each organization's own website or page, official sources such as housing authority and WIC clinic lists, and the public Find Food map of the Food Bank for the Heartland. We list the source on every card.

    Something missing, or out of date?

    If you run a pantry or program, or you saw a listing that is wrong, tell us. We check every message against the organization's own page before anything changes.